Draft profile: Hugh O’Neill

Draft profile: Hugh O’Neill

TORONTO — Top ranked kicking prospect Hugh O’Neill should hear his name called in the early rounds of this year’s Canadian Draft. The Alberta kicker sits 8th on the CFL Amateur Scouting Bureau’s list of top prospects.

He will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Rob Maver who was taken with the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft. Maver went on to lead the league in scoring in his first season as a pro.

And O’Neill certainly has the college pedigree to warrant a high-selection. He’s a four-time Canada West all-star from 2007 through 2010, a second team CIS all-Canadian place kicker and punter in 2007, and a first team CIS punter in 2009. And that was all while maintaining a GPA of slightly under 4.00.

At this point O’Neill’s punting is probably his biggest strength – he averaged 41.4 yards per punt over four years, while hitting on 59 of 80 on field goals. But O’Neill is confident in his ability to place kick as well.

“My punting and accuracy has come up for sure… but I’m confident with my field goal kicking as well because of the strength of my leg,” said O’Neill.